Express & Star

Parents cautious about children returning to classes

Families are getting ready for some of their children to head back to school next week – but many are feeling cautious about the transition.

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Isabelle Garland, 9, and brother Joshua Garland, 6

One of those families is the Garlands from Wombourne.

Mother Emma Garland has said she has “mixed feelings” about sending her children back to school, who both attend Westfield Primary.

Her six-year-old son Joshua is in Year 1 and can go back to school next week – but Emma has said she is going to keep him at home for a few more weeks and review the situation in the future.

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Her daughter Isabelle is aged nine and in Year 4 – and does not have the option to go back to school yet as pupils are going back in phases.

Emma, aged 38, said she had spoken to her two children about going back to school and discussed with them the changes they might face.

She said: “I’ve got mixed feelings about sending them back. I want them to go back but when they can start mixing and socialising with friends more.

“I know a lot of Joshua’s friends are not going back yet. And friends are important to both of them. If they can socialise more then I might be inclined to send them back in sooner.”

The family, with father Darren, have been enjoying long walks together during lockdown and even walked a marathon in a week and raised £1,000 for the Dudley Covid-19 appeal.

Emma added: “I don’t want to say a definite no or a definite yes. I’d like to review it as time goes by. I’ve spoken to them both about how school life will be different now and they’ve seen it on the TV too they know it won’t be the same.

“For example Joshua won’t be wearing his school uniform when he’s back – as the school have asked children to wear a fresh pair of clothes every day. So that will be different.

“The school have been very informative in keeping us up to date. And the children have adapted well to learning from home.”